On Sunday, the preliminary conclusions of the audit by the Organization of American States (OAS) on the elections held on 20 October were announced which, given the irregularities observed, recommended that new elections be held under the supervision of the new electoral authorities. Subsequently, the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, announced a call for these new elections and the appointment of new members of the Supreme Electoral Court. Spain condemns the fact that the process initiated on Sunday has been distorted by the intervention of the Armed Forces and the police, suggesting that Evo Morales should resign from the Presidency, which he subsequently did. This intervention only serves as a reminder of events of the past in Latin America.
The Government of Spain reiterates the call it previously made in its communiqué on Sunday, 10 November for all Bolivian political stakeholders to work through institutional and peaceful channels to enable new elections to be called as soon as possible. This new call, supervised by new electoral authorities in line with the preliminary recommendations made in the audit by the OAS, must allow confidence to be restored in the electoral process as the channel for the democratic expression of the people's will. This is the appropriate channel for the country to exit the current crisis.
The Government of Spain calls on political stakeholders to resolve the current institutional vacuum at the head of the executive and the legislative as soon as possible pursuant to constitutional procedures.
Spain urges all parties to avoid resorting to violence. There is an urgent need to guarantee the safety of the Bolivian people; and also of the representatives of the media, civil society and political stakeholders from the whole spectrum, including former President Morales, his relatives and members of his administration.
Non official translation
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación